Get Inspired

A guided walking tour through Baltimore’s Mt. Vernon neighborhood visits the homes and haunts of some of our state’s literary legends, providing insights into the contexts and influences of their work.

Encouraging a love of reading and a deeper sense of community, One Maryland One Book is like a statewide book club. Every Marylander is invited to participate through one of the hundreds of events happening around the state.

88.1 WYPR, Thursdays at 4:44 pm. Tune in every week for a few minutes with our executive director Phoebe Stein and an array of fascinating guests for stories and lively discussion around literature, our heritage, culture, and more.

Have you ever read a book that moved you so much you wish you could tell the author? Letters About Literature, our annual contest for grades 4 -12, encourages students to share their love of books and reading.

Using relevant plays, short stories, poetry, fiction and personal narratives, healthcare professionals across Maryland connect through this program to increase their empathy for patients and one another.

Together, veterans service organizations across the state and Maryland Humanities present a series of programs for military veterans, their families, and the public at large that explore the history, experience, or meaning of war and military service.

“The most American thing in America.” That’s how Theodore Roosevelt described the Chautauqua movement, where history comes to life in vivid detail. Join your fellow Marylanders and meet and talk with celebrated figures from our nation’s past.

“[One Maryland One Book] brings cross curricular teachers together to the library to read, discuss topics and social issues in the book. It’s a way for students to read good books without the pressure of an assignment.”

One Maryland One Book 2015 teacher

“Again it was a wonderful experience with your students and a great project for them. To see and talk to real Vietnam vets is important to get real stories. You have a lot of work to do but it is a really worthwhile experience for the students “as well” as us Vietnam vets.”

“The part of History Day that had the most impact on me was seeing all the other entries and entry categories. It was really inspiring to see so many different people of history honored for their leadership and legacy as that was this years theme. You forget that the whole world has a history and there are so many different people and leaders who make up that history. The fact that this day brings together all of us students, our imaginations, our creativity, research skills, and history really reminds you how much of us would be lost if we didn’t remember those who made an impact.”

​Maryland History Day student participant

“The impact of this particular book was probably stronger than any other Maryland One Book due to the connections we could make with real world events and police brutality in the headlines. Many groups were reading and discussing the book at our school: Student Equity Team, Drama Club, Faculty book club, sociology and English classes. It fostered important discussions about race relations.”

One Maryland One Book 2016 teacher

“The Smithsonian connection gave us new credibility. We were able to track attendance and we’ve seen a continued rise in weekend activity. Based on increased attendance numbers, we’ve decided to keep the museum open year round. Using our guest book, our gung-ho membership chair was able to double the membership in the Friends organization. This enhanced our treasury by a substantial amount and identified many new volunteers.”

“[One Maryland One Book is] excellent! I come to as many of the One Maryland One Book events and will continue to do so—always pleased!”

One Maryland One Book 2016 participant

I just wanted to tell you, I really enjoyed the visit…Your students were wonderful and the questions were fair and good. I enjoyed the experience and hope it will helpful to your classroom experience…I like it when students ask questions on things they may have wondered about. Again it was a wonderful experience with your students and a great project for them. To see and talk to real Vietnam vets is important to get real stories…it is a really worthwhile experience for the students “as well” as us Vietnam vets.

Standing Together: Veterans Oral History Project, veteran participant

“This contest gives [students] a chance to practice [letter writing] while also expressing themselves about a work of literature or a particular author that has made an impact on them personally. As a teacher, I benefit from reading the letters because I always learn new things about each student.”

​Letters About Literature teacher

“One of my students, a boy who works 35 hours a week at McDonalds, took the time to write me a letter stating the book had changed his life.”

​One Maryland One Book 2015 teacher

It was more than just a research project, it was more personal than that.

Maryland Humanities is a statewide, educational nonprofit organization that creates and supports educational experiences in the humanities that inspire all Marylanders to embrace lifelong learning, exchange ideas openly, and enrich their communities.